Director's Message
During our first rehearsal, I asked the cast to share their opinions with one another. I read a series of statements and I told them they had to decide whether they agreed with the statement or not. If they agreed with the statement, they would stand up. If they didn’t, they would stay seated.
There was one statement where every person in the cast stood.
As we looked around the room, we realized we had so much we wanted to talk about. Just responding with a “yes” or “no” was difficult. Having to form a definitive answer without having the option of “sometimes” was difficult. The rehearsal process gave us the time, the space, the text, and the characters to navigate the conversations and to think about how we live through our struggles.
I’ll leave the statements with you here. Can you form definitive opinions about them? Do you agree or disagree?
Adults are mostly narrow minded and set in their ways. We rely more on tradition than creativity. If someone wrongs me or my family, the appropriate response is to get revenge. Teenagers do not have enough life experience to fall in love. A parent should have a say in who their child marries. Young people don’t get to design their own future; it is designed for them. Most people are desensitized to violence. Friends understand you better than your family does. Humor as a defense mechanism is healthy. Secrecy never ends well. Differences actually bring people closer together. Teens should be held accountable for their actions like adults are. We define people more by their mistakes than their achievements. Laws and regulations are what make people do the right thing. There is no such thing as love at first sight. Social expectations prevent you from really being who you want to be. Parents should be held accountable for their children’s actions. Misinformation is the cause for most mistakes. We generally fear those who are different from us. We do a good job at teaching our children to value life. Love heals all divides. Young people have the power to change how older generations think and act. Teens have no impulse control. We are more united in what makes us different than what makes us similar.
The one unanimous response was in agreement to the statement that most people are desensitized to violence. Hopefully you can start some good conversations with yourselves and those around you. Talk to a teenager. They have so much to say and they want to be heard.
Enjoy the show!
Rachel Becker
Many Thanks
All Parents and Families
Wade Thatcher
Gwen Schoeff
Barb Springer
Michele Thomas
Heather Holman-Harrell
Josh DeBard
Geoff Hammons
Smith Family
Brandy Moss
Cathy Holmes
The Reporter
RadioMom
Kevin O'Rourke
William Gee
Michael Reynolds
Phil Levine